John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men conveys the theme of the “American Dream” and explores it’s plausibility for the beaten, downtrodden members of society. The novel’s theme of the “American Dream” is conveyed through Gorge and Lennie’s constant pursuit of “the farm” and a stabile life. The companionship between Gorge and Lennie is symbolic of hope and belief in the “American Dream”. Steinbeck portrays to American dream as being on the verge of fruition, but just out of reach due to factors beyond their control. John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is symbolic of the American Dream and the pursuit of security. The novel’s central theme of the pursuit of the American dream is represented by the characters Gorge and Lennie and their plan to save …show more content…
The American Dream, as portrayed by Of Mice and Men, always seems to be just out of reach but in the end is unachievable. As stated by Lisca “This transference of symbolic value from the farm to the rabbits is important also because it make possible the motif of action. This is introduced in the first scene by the dead mouse which Lennie is carrying in his pocket. As George talks about Lennie’s attraction to mice, it becomes evident that the symbolic rabbits will come to the same end - crushed by Lennie's simple, Blundering strength. Thus Lennie’s killing of mice and later his killing of the puppy set up a pattern which the reader expects to be carried out again” (Lisca 73) This shows how Lennie, despite his best efforts, is going to do something that ruins his chances of living the American Dream. This is symbolic of the inability of people to achieve that dream due to something out of their control, like in George’s case Lennie accidentally killing Curly’s wife. This represents the inevitability of failure and the impossibility of living the American Dream. Lisca expands upon this idea by stating “The function of Candy’s and Crook’s interest and the sudden bringing of the dream within reasonable possibility is to interrupt, momentarily, the patter of inevitability… Steinbeck handles this interruption so that it does not actually reverse the situation. Rather, it insinuates a possibility. Thus, through working against the pattern, this countermovement makes that pattern more credible by creating the necessary ingredient of free will.” (Licsa 75) This shows how despite it being technically possible to live the American Dream, it realistically won’t happen and our free will ends up messing up our plan. This is symbolic of how low workers potentially could save up, work hard, and improve their lot in life but it is an unrealistic goal and often despite being close to
In the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Steinbeck illustrates the dreams of George,Lennie, and other characters and how these dreams are unrealistic and unattainable .Their dreams were the reason that these characters kept moving forward but because of difficult circumstances the dreams of George,Lennie,Candy and Curley's wife are shattered , they knew that their dream was never really attainable but they still had hope but because they were so greatly impacted by Lennies actions their dreams are never accomplished.
Candy shows great spirit throughout the book and really shows off the good aspects of the American Dream. It is only until the end of the book until the plan to go away starts to be questioned. He starts asking questions like ”You an’ me can get that little place cant we, George?”(Steinbeck,94) This denial was once again recognized by Kevin Attell, who said “George and Lennie’s dream is specifically necessitated by and responds to the limitations played on their lives. ”(Attell)
The American Dream is a dream that everyone imagines to be picture perfect. The American Dream means having freedom, equality and opportunity’s to achieve the dream that you conceptualize to be right by you. In the novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck did not want to just illustrate the American dream as being easy, but he wanted to point out the American Dream as being difficult too. Steinbeck made a work of art by composing a great novel to make the reader understand that life can be difficult and at times dreams are hard to achieve. Of Mice and Men was written and based on the settings of the Great Depression (Anderson). The Great Depression was a very dire time that left multiple of people despondent and the unavailing to move on with their lives. The Great Depression created a world where everyone had to seek and survive for themselves. In the novel Steinbeck wanted to explore and point out how powerless people where during the time of the Great Depression. Steinbeck purposely incorporated his characters to depict the life struggle of what people go through during grim times. In the novel, Steinbeck illustrated a great set of characters Lennie, George, Candy and Crooks. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck discusses handicaps, hardships, and friendships of the characters.
The American Dream is what everyone so desperately desired for in the 1930’s. Many come to America for the American Dream, to be successful, have freedom, and support their families by the better opportunities given. In Of Mice and Men the movie the setting sets in the 1930’s where Lennie and George become farm workers for Curley’s dad. Working in these conditions in the 1930’s must of been difficult as shown in the movie when Lennie and George face problems in their journey together. What’s your American Dream?
The novel is an exposé of the harsh and vicious reality of the American Dream'. George and Lennie are poor homeless migrant workers doomed to a life of wandering and toil. They will be abused and exploited; they are in fact a model for all the marginalized poor of the world. Injustice has become so much of their world that they rarely mention it. It is part of their psyche. They do not expect to be treated any different no matter where they go.
Every person has an American dream, no matter how big or small, everyone has one. Their dreams however, vary from person to person, based on past experiences. While some people will chose to try to own a small farm in California, others will want to go to Hollywood and become an actress. Though American dreams are commonly found in living people they are also able to be within fictional characters as well; such as in Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. Only American dreams can go astray due to problems that were not foreseen. In Of Mice and y Men, Lennie was the unforeseen problem with George, Candy, and his American dream because of his ableism. His mental ableism made him love to touch soft things such as hair, even though he could end
The book shows how different characters are striving for their version of the American Dream and have natural obstacles in their way that they have to overcome to achieve their dreams. Three main characters that have American Dreams, but do not achieve them do to obstacles are Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Candy. All three of these characters worked super hard and did their best, but sometimes the best dreams lead to
...ing the farm, comfort, independence, more or less Lennie’s half of the dream. This all changes when George kills Lennie, at this point all hope of their dream is crumbled. Since they live in the time of the Great Depression, everyone lives in poverty. Accomplishing the American dream is nearly impossible as Steinbeck suggests, the author wants the reader to infer that the dream is unattainable, due to the time setting of the story, and the main character’s decisions throughout the novella. This American dream is envisioned into millions of peoples of minds, where they believe that anyone can accomplish a better life through hard labor, and ultimately finding happiness when the dream is fulfilled. Each human-being strives to accomplish and fulfill this American dream of theirs. A dream cannot be achieved by wishful thinking, but with hard work and absolute dedication.
The theme in the book “Of Mice and Men” is “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”. Steinbeck shows us this throughout the story of George and Lennie dreaming and how they pursue them. The story shows how some characters have dreams that they look forward to in the long days on the ranch. Dreams have the power to change lives and give hope.
Candy, Lennie, and George all have the dream to own land; they discuss gathering money together to save. Lennie meets Crooks and they talk a while as they wait for George to return from town with the other workers. The pair goes through all the trials and tribulations of owning land only to be stopped by personal conflict. John Steinbeck illustrates the theme of dreams and the affection on the decisions the characters of Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife make in Of Mice and Men.
Other than being a topic of the novel, The American dream identify with a few characters. Lennie and George's fantasy of owning their little homestead and rabbits with Candy was a case of what a normal American dream was amid the 1930s Great Depression. The Great Depression has changed throughout the year relying upon the condition of the country. Amid the Great Depression the normal dream was simply singular fulfillment. To fulfill one's self amid the Great Depression was distinctive. Getting another or surprisingly better occupation was restricted of gaining fulfillment, yet the place where there is fresh chances to succeed was filled with emergency after the share trading system smashed. The American dream had lost its impact on America amid the 1930s, yet was still vivacious when men like George and Lennie sought after a superior and distinctive life and perpetual miracle into the desire for the better of individual
...deal with them that together, they could “get a big stake” (63) in order to buy a “little place an’ live on the fatta the lan’” (63). Candy says he would “cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some” (67). However, after Lennie accidently kills Curley’s wife, Candy in “his greatest fear” (107) asks George if they could still “get that little place” (107). But he knew it was no, and right at that moment his American Dream comes to an end. Therefore if Candy would be all by him following his American Dream without depending on George and Lennie, he would have been successful.
Everyone dreams about something. However, it is important to know when the right time to dream is, and when to wake up. A major theme that Steinbeck conveys in the book Of Mice and Men is the pursuit of the American Dream. The book tells the story of two men trying to earn a better life. Their American Dream was to get their own place somewhere and live together. Although, through the characterization of Lennie, the symbolism of rabbits, and the setting of the book, Steinbeck is trying to convey that people cannot continue to live in a dream.
The theme that John Steinbeck amits from the novel Of Mice and Men is not everyone’s american dream can come true because one wants it to. This alludes to a famous poem by Robert Burns called “To a Mouse”. The theme of this poem is the greatest schemes of mice and men often go astray. Meaning that things do not always go as one plans it to. The novel is set in the Great Depression (1929-1939) in Southern California (near Soledad). Characters in the novel such as George and Crooks have obstacles that hold them back from achieving their own american dreams. George is held back from his by having to care of Lennie, who cannot take care of himself. Crooks is held back from his american dream because of his skin color.
John Steinbeck, in his essay America and Americans, uses many contradictions to explain his views on the American Dream. I have witnessed and experienced many of these contradictions in my life. Through my experiences, I have learned to believe that the American dream is no more than just a dream.